Guest Post: Ditching the Chemicals with a Natural Swimming Pool

Many people really like the idea of having their own swimming pool, but are concerned about the potential health issues that associated with exposure to chlorine and other pool chemicals. Chlorine has been linked to a variety of health concerns including heart disease, asthma and even some cancers.

The good news is that there are a number of different options available to you including choosing alternative types of pools and using different skin treatments to act as a barrier between your skin and the chlorine. I want to focus on the former – alternative types of swimming pools.

Salt Water Swimming Pools

Some pool owners are turning to salt water swimming pools in a bid to avoid chlorine exposure. However, it is important to note that salt water pools are not actually chlorine free. That is not to say they are a poor choice as they are far lower in chlorine than a traditional pool. Salt water pools work with a chlorine generator rather than relying on you handling chlorine to be added manually.

The key fact here is that this is not a chemical free choice, so only go for a salt water pool if you are happy to reduce rather than eliminate pool chemicals.

Alternative Filters

One option you may wish to look into is a UV swimming pool filter (PDF). This means that the water in your pool shall be passed through Ultraviolet (UV) light which will kill off any micro-organisms including algae and bacteria. It is a non-chemical method of sanitizing your swimming pool and it is gaining in popularity.

Alternatively, you might wish to go down the ionization route which involves using cooper as an algaecide and zinc or silver as a bactericide. There are systems like the Floatron on the market which can be used to introduce ionization to your swimming pool.

Natural Swimming Pools

The option that interests me most of all is the natural swimming pool. These pools are chemical free and rely on plants to filter the water naturally. That does not mean you will be swimming around in a plant filled pond – these are restricted to a separate area than the swimming ‘zone’.

Natural swimming pools are really popular all across Europe and they are now beginning to get some real attention from American pool owners too. It may be more expensive at the outset, but maintenance costs are much lower as you do not need expensive filters or pool closing chemicals. Even if you already have a traditional chlorinated swimming pool you can convert this to a natural pool with just a few modifications.

When choosing a natural pool, water is filtered through a section containing rocks, plants and vegetation before being passed through a UV filter like those discussed above. Once the water is clean and aerated it is fed back into the swimming area of the pool – commonly via a small ‘waterfall’ feature. This makes for some really interesting design opportunities. Natural pools are much more creative than the standard concrete tub that represents most traditional pools!

In terms of choosing the best way to ditch pool chemicals, I am all for going for the natural pool option. I think it offers the best choice in terms of cost, maintenance and design. If this is not possible then choosing ultraviolet or ionization filtering is the next bet thing. If all else fails then a salt water pool will help to reduce chlorine exposure. The choice you make will depend on your own ideals so do weigh up all of your options before deciding.

Ameline Clerk loves writing about home design – both interior and exterior! She writes for poolproducts.com and particularly enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge of swimming pools with others.

17 comments for “Guest Post: Ditching the Chemicals with a Natural Swimming Pool”

The chlorine is the one thing I HATE about swimming pools. I taught swimming for 3 years and I just would hate how horrible and dry my skin would be, never mind the chlorine smell and the damaged hair!! I’m desperate for a pool, so these options sound like great alternatives!! Thanks x Karen #teamIBOTKaren recently posted..Podcast Episode 4: Cross Cultural Marriage and Living in Another Country

Interesting post – would love to spend more time swimming this summer but I have always hated that chlorine smell and wondered what it was doing to my hair and skin. I don’t have access to my own pool, so thanks for that link about ways to minimise exposure to chlorine – really helpful!

We have a salt water pool and we really enjoy it. It does cut down on a lot of that chlorine smell. I’m interested in possibly going the natural route though. I’ll have to look into it a bit more but sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Kristen, it took me years to realize I was allergic to chlorine. Whenever I go to the swimming pool, I have a running nose and ears pain. A natural pool would be perfect for me 🙂Véronique recently posted..8 Genius DIY Ideas to Upgrade your Backyard

Did you mean both in-ground and above-ground pools? I saw some offering natural stuff. What do you suggest? BTW, your ideas are great to learn from.Tyler Pool recently posted..Best Swimming Pool Heater Reviews

Hi Kristen, I know you didn’t write the this article, but based on my research I have heard that plants can take longer to filter the pool. I have also read that there will often be more bugs in your pool if u you use this system.

I know the word chemicals is loaded but chlorine pools have been around for a while for a reason. But it’s still great to point out alternatives. Thank you for weaving in interesting links, too. It was good to find more info on those websites. Many thanks.Pool Urchin recently posted..15 Perfect Pool Party Games for Preschoolers

Kirsten in Brief…

In 2010 Kirsten was on maternity leave with her third child, firmly established in suburbia, and needed an outlet for her passion for the environment & sustainable living. Thus Sustainable Suburbia was born.

In 2014 she became a Norwex Independent Sales Consultant, and found a new way to pursue her passion, teaching small groups of (mostly) women about how to get rid of many of the toxic chemicals in their homes.

In 2015 she discovered it could be even more rewarding to help other women pursue their goals, when she became a leader with Norwex.

In 2018 she plans to help even more people to ditch the nasty chemicals and in some cases to start teaching others to do the same. She hopes to bring many more people into the Norwex family. She also hopes to find time to produce a 2nd edition of Less Toxic Living.